Policies

Major policy and legal chances have happened in a range of European countries in 2013 and early 2014, and the coming months will see some major votes on the question. How does the “abortion debate” look like in Europe today and what does it say about European societies and politics?

Lampedusa is emblematic for “The Other Euro Crisis”. The number of people who seek sanctuary in the European Union and the life-threatening extent to which they go for refuge render it necessary to revisit our Common European Asylum System with due regard to the New Year’s special: The Recast Dublin Regulation (Dublin III). “A brave new world or a lipstick on a pig?” that is the question.

2014, marking the centenary of the First World War, is a landmark year for Europe. It may seem as a macabre birthday, for some, to celebrate the kick-off of the deadliest century in Europe, with its First World War erupting in the summer of 1914. Others may think that 100 years is far away, and that Europe is now immune from war. So why is it important to celebrate the centenary of the Great War?

Greece takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union at a particularly trying time - for Greece and the whole Union. Before the European Parliament, Prime Minister Samaras underlined that Greece has suffered more than any other country before in the EU. Despite, Greece tries on its commitment to implement structural reforms. In the context of tense EU-Greek relations, are we to expect a radical reorientation of EU policy from the Greek presidency?

Danièle Nouy may not be a well-known name to many Europeans yet, but she has an important role: starting in 2014, the European Central Bank (ECB) will be responsible for the supervision of the major banks in Europe. This is only a first element of the ‘Banking Union’ that Europe has called for since the financial crisis. Others have to follow - otherwise the ‘Banking Union’ will remain toothless.

EU’s new budget deal has shown us that the European Union (EU) is moving in the wrong direction: The creation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) has induced a feeling of 'bail-out fatigue' in Germany and other Northern member states. A truly European budget needs to integrate the ESM into the political system of the EU in order to both strengthen the accountability and fiscal capacities of the EU.

In the abundant Eurosceptic speech of the British Conservatives, one bête noire stands out: the Working Time Directive. First adopted in 1993 and twice modified since then, this piece of European legislation compels EU member states to adopt minimal norms of working time arrangements. As the debate heats up over its revision, let us ask an important question – is it just costly red tape?

Right before the Europeans started packing for their annual holiday, the Dutch government proposed its ‘subsidiarity review’ in June. This review states that the European Commission is not supposed to have a greater say over topics concerning criminal law, social security or pensions, and that the Commission should set broad objectives, but leave its implementation to the European member states. Where does this resort to subsidiarity come from? And in what way does a focus on subsidiarity matter? This article will explore the principle of subsidiarity, discuss its shortcomings and underline its potential.

The European Youth Forum is the platform of youth organisations in Europe. As an independent, democratic, youth-led NGO, it “strives for youth rights and works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives”. And yet, reality sometimes proves an obstacle to the will of empowerment. We are currently witnessing the gradual decrease in youth electoral participation, especially at the European level. Facing the problem, the European Youth Forum decided to launch a new initiative: the League of Young Voters, with the aim of bringing youth to the forefront of the next European electoral campaign.

L'Auberge espagnole, the great potluck – all synonyms for the Erasmus programme, which celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary this year. Now probably more than ever, Erasmus is referred to as the facilitator of European identity. Today's students are the new 'Erasmus generation': young, mobile, European – or are they?